Officials, residents outline hopes, goals for Lake City Armory

LAKE CITY — Striking a balance in serving Lake City’s children and youths, veterans, and entire community is the general theme among residents and officials voicing their opinions about the use of the city’s former National Guard Armory.

“We have to start going into the planning stages now … so we can accomplish the goals we set,” Lake City Mayor Lovith Anderson Jr. said during a community meeting held Friday at the Armory, at 135 Calhoun St.

During the meeting, veteran Harold Reel asked what the building’s needs are.

Anderson said the roof is a major issue because it’s flat and has deteriorated because water settles into it. It would cost about $60,000 to replace and repair, he said.

Although cost is a concern, S.C. Sen. Yancey McGill of Kingstree told the crowd of about 60 on Friday that the adage of “there is no money” isn’t necessarily true.

“There is money for whoever can get to the money,” although they have to fight for it, McGill said.

McGill suggested making the following requests in funding for the Armory:

n $50,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development

n $200,000 in paving funds from the Florence County Transportation Authority

n $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds

n $50,000 from the South Carolina Department of Energy to strengthen the building’s insulation

n $30,000 from the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism

Getting the funding could take a year to a year and a half, and the city might not get everything it asks for, but could still make a good start, he said after the meeting.

In 2004, the federal government stopped using the facility for National Guard activities. The deed for the building was transferred to Lake City in August 2006.

McGill and former Mayor LaRue Alford led the effort to get the federal government to give the building to the city at no cost.

On Friday, Alford suggested that the city should use any money it might have available for the Armory and talk with state legislators, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn and others who might be able to help find other funds.

He mentioned that Manning got grants and funds to transform its former Armory into a community center.

Lake City City Councilman Russ Martin encouraged residents to visit the Manning facility, which was $3 million project, although Lake City’s community center would be on a smaller scale, he said.

“It would give you some insight into what this building could look like,” Martin said.

The main Lake City Armory building has offices, storage space, locker rooms and a large gymnasium area. Directly behind the main building is a kitchen and another large building similar to a garage with several bay doors and storage space.

Lake City has installed air conditioning with help from Florence County, Anderson said. The city also has added an ice maker and is considering remodeling the bathrooms, he said.

Justin Hanna of Lake City said Friday that city leaders and residents also need to work with Florence School District 3 and combine resources to turn the building into a community center.

“A community center, you can base on all topics,” he said.

Many people said they want to see the Armory become a place for children and youths.

Paula Morris said her Faith and Hope Intervention After School Program had to take trips to Florence on Tuesdays and Thursdays for recreation this summer.

“Those revenues could stay here in Lake City, but it could not because we didn’t have the facilities,” she said.

In 2008, Lake City City Council tabled a motion to give Morris temporary use of the facility for her program.

Cynthia Mallette, Lake City’s recreation director, said her programs tend to lose youths when they turn 13 and “start doing other things that are not pleasing.”

“We need an overall facility, starting with the roof and the walls and et cetera … until we get it completed and we have a facility we can be proud of,” she said.

Mallette said the previous goal was for the Armory to serve as a recreation center, but she also wants the city to provide something for veterans.

Veterans made up at least two dozen of the crowd members, and the city’s Veterans Day ceremonies have taken place at the facility.

Jim Haynes of the local American Legion said the former Armory is a good place to honor veterans, and that he wants city leaders to keep that in mind as well as the need to provide a place for children and youths.

Sylvia Gowdy of Lake City said she also wants to see programs for music and arts for the children who show less of an interest in athletics. Doing so would help them feel better about themselves and perform better academically, she said.

A few candidates for Lake City offices also spoke during Friday’s meeting. Wilhelmina Scott, who is running against Martin for a seat on city council, said she’s lived on nearby Beauregard Street for 33 years and that youths need a positive place to go in Lake City.

“I see the activity that goes on around the building at night (and) during the daytime,” she said.

Lake City Police Cpl. Timothy Brand, who is running for mayor, said the city has to provide a place where youths can have positive experiences that will help them become successful.

“We understand that without them, there is no Lake City,” he said.

As Brand continued, Anderson said, “This is not a political campaign up here today, folks.”

While walking back to his seat, Brand said he wasn’t campaigning, but making a “positive statement.”

Bernard McIntosh said, however, that in addition to recreational facilities and Internet, the city needs volunteers to make a successful community center. He said he’s volunteered for 20 years with the city’s recreation department.

“If we don’t have volunteers, it’s still not going to be enough,” he said.